🔗 Share this article Metropolitan Museum Responds to Lawsuit Over Supposedly Nazi-Stolen Van Gogh Artwork The heirs of a Jewish pair have filed a lawsuit against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, claiming that a the Dutch artist oil painting was stolen by Nazi forces. Origins of the Dispute According to the court documents, the Stern couple acquired the piece, titled Gathering Olives, in 1935. Just one year later, they were forced to flee their home in the German city of Munich prior to World War II. The suit contends that the Met, which purchased the artwork in the 1950s for a significant sum, must have realized it was probably looted property. The family are now seeking the repatriation of the painting along with damages. Since the end of World War II, this stolen artwork has been often and discreetly exchanged, purchased and sold in and through the city of New York, alleges the lawsuit. Family's Flight The Sterns fled from Munich to America in 1936 with their offspring due to persecution by the Nazis. However, they were unable to bring the artwork, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century. Before they left, the Nazi government designated the painting as property of the state and prohibited the couple from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a agent appointed by the authorities sold the piece on the couple's behalf. But, the proceeds from the sale were held in a blocked account, which the authorities later confiscated. Later Transactions Around 1948, or not long after, the painting was brought to the United States and was bought by a prominent figure, among the richest individuals in the US. Subsequently, it was exchanged through a gallery to the institution, which then transferred it to Greek shipping magnate Basil Goulandris and his spouse, Elise, in 1972. The Greek couple established the BEG in 1979, which runs a institution in Athens where the painting is currently shown. Claims and Defenses The institution and a surviving nephew of the magnate are identified in the suit. The lawsuit claims that the defendants and its associated organizations have concealed and disguised the masterpiece's history and whereabouts from the heirs. Even now, the defendants continue to conceal the circumstances the BEG came into ownership of the piece; the couple's ownership of the artwork from several years; and the facts that the Nazis looted the canvas from the family, forced the Sterns into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and seized the funds of the sale. Previous Legal Action The descendants initiated a comparable case in California in the year 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An appeal was also rejected in May 2025. The Met's Position The lawsuit argues that the museum's acquisition of the artwork was sanctioned by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the museum's curator of European paintings and one of the world's foremost experts on art theft during the Nazi era. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the artwork had likely been stolen by Nazis. The Met responded that it is committed to its longstanding commitment to resolve Nazi-era claims. An official commented: Not once during the museum's possession of the artwork was there any evidence that it had previously been owned to the heirs – indeed, that information did not become known until many years after the artwork left the Met's possession. The institution's deaccessioning of Olive Picking met the Met's guidelines for disposal – in particular, it was documented that the piece was judged to be of lesser quality than additional artworks of the same type in the collection. While the institution upholds its view that this work entered the collection and was removed legally and well within all rules and regulations, the museum is open to and will review any further evidence that comes to light. Foundation's Defense William Charron acting for BEG commented: The institution is a highly prestigious organization in Greece. The effort to sue and smear the Foundation and the family in the America upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was already thrown out, multiple times. We are convinced it will be again.